How to cloud prune - part 1 - inspired by Jake Hobson and Niwaki techniques

September 2020 update. Yesterday I did the stage 2 prune - pulling and tying every branch down to around a right-angle to the trunk. Scary stuff! I'll upload the video soon. I learnt a few important lessons I'd like to share. Do subscribe and click the notification bell if you want to be told when it goes live. Best wishes, Tony.
My first attempt at cloud pruning a cypress tree.
Music: 'Happy Accidents' by Edward Davis (c) 2017

[@jesshothersall]

Thanks for demo, the second one is lovely, and can't help seeing it as a green person now, as you clipped a head shape on it's 'shoulders' :)

[@rustyshackleford3278]

Kind sir, a special thank you for this post! You have given me the confidence to try this myself despite my hesitations. Best regards from across the pond here in the U.S. -R. Shackleford, Vermont

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Day made, Rusty! Best of luck with your own. I'm hoping to post an update with phase three this year..

[@movingon.............6850]

100 thumbs up for you, thanks for sharing 👍

[@eficarelse7292]

Beautiful. Thanks

[@ArbitraryLifestyle]

Yooo those look great for your first time!! Awesome job :D

[@Crazyafrican]

lovely garden

[@MrLibbyloulou]

Excellent job!!!!!

[@faroukentertainment]

Wow that was done with a Cyprus. Very nice.

[@joannenardoni17]

You did great, so proud of you

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Many thanks, Joanne!

[@MsCmsh]

Wow!! Very interesting!! You’ve very artistic eyes and skillful hands!! Great job!! Now, you gave me ideas to try to do that one day when some of my trees grow up!! May I ask you what grow zone are you in and what time of the year is the best to do this? What tree do you have there and any suggestions on what trees will tolerate pruning/trimming like that? Tks for sharing!! 👍😃

[@gb9877]

Thank you! I was looking for some inspiration 👍I'm off to have a look at my trees now 😀

[@gb9877]

Could you tell me the name and make of the tools you are using there please.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

@@gb9877 Hi Grace, best of luck with your pruning! The shears were just cheap - around £10 - but I've just treated myself to some proper Niwaki snips and they're great. Here's the eBay no. so you can see: 163750359781. Best wishes, Tony.

[@janetstead7032]

Nice result!

[@guccifitmerite]

Super work!!!!

[@delighted8481]

Lovely!

[@LayeDiaw]

Man! This is awesome.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you!

[@levitatandoc8063]

WOW!! Great Job sir.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thanks a lot!

[@babyfacebowers01]

Well done video my friend! Music and sped up time lapse was perfect! And your bushes look quite lovely. 👌👍👏

[@aurorafernandez6932]

Love it!!

[@sopranogirl13]

Great job, and the music is great! I love jazz, especially jazz fusion.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you, Fantasia! I'll tell my son. After all the complaints, this will cheer him up!

[@reginajarlego1849]

i,love it... Very inspiring . ...

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you, Regina.

[@eamonnszwec2228]

Thank you very much .....

[@manoranjandehuri5720]

Good job amazing

[@HOBBYMOE73]

Very good job mate ....you made me :)

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thanks Hobby Moe!

[@sivabalankaniapan8786]

Amazing

[@SD-qf1ln]

Thank You🤩

[@chrispursall5258]

Bob Ross.. On the m.i.c 🧔, good work around 👍

[@deniseprotheroe4337]

Amazing I'd love to have a gjo

[@rickburns4572]

way to go!!

[@fungreengardninghomemade1321]

Nice working

[@ojardineirooficial5001]

Very Very Good

[@christineribone9351]

That tree was saying "i want a spiral cut, darlin!!"

[@errolnazareth1284]

Awesome

[@JjeddJjedd]

omggggggg amazing

[@Justheavenlyflowers]

Cool 😎!

[@user-yh5bc7hf4h]

I watch your video over and over again. get a lot of happiness. where can I buy your book?

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you very much! Here's Jake's book: www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Creative-Pruning-Inventive-Training/dp/160469114X

[@user-oe5lt4of8h]

Супер.Возьму на заметку.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Спасибо. Рад, что вам понравилось!

[@notfound4174]

magnifique!!!!!

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bschott4078]

This looks like so much fun... and you did a great job! Now, I need to know about those tools :) Any input on the two you used,, would be appreciated!!

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Many thanks, B! The tools are just basic 'sheep sheers', though I've upgraded to a good pair of long-nose clippers now. I wouldn't recommend the brand of electric clippers I use as they're set at an awkward angle and hurt your wrists.. Have fun!

[@MsCmsh]

🙄😃🤔 sheep shears?! Wow, who would thought of that!! Ingenious!!

[@blessed971]

super!

[@user-yh5bc7hf4h]

Дуже гарно! :)

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Дякую!

[@TV-ry9mu]

멋지게 만드셨네요.^^

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

감사합니다!

[@qizu6936]

Hello you have done a wonderful job with your trees - please what is the specie of shrub you have

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you! They are a type of Cypress tree, I think, but I'm not sure which I'm afraid.

[@eduardamanukyan8789]

Super

[@peteravvonen4125]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@tavery4627]

Thanks for your master class, what kind of three is it.? Thanks

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Many thanks for watching. I believe their Cyrus trees, but I'm afraid I don't know the particular variety. Hope your own experiments go well!

[@RegineRenting]

Funny, I read that someone loves it!! All test are diferents ! Sorry for the bad spelling I am French !

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Indeed! My son's track. Actually, the speech you can't hear properly is not my voice, but Bob Ross' - the painter. It's supposed to be way back in the mix.. I guess it was an inappropriate track to use for a 'how to'.. Hope you're all doing well over in France during these strange times..

[@RegineRenting]

@@TonyDavisSaxophone Kind answer, thanks. I was quiet happy in my garden during those days...Like all lucky people having a garden, I suppose !

[@downhomegirl5]

What were the garden tools you used, could you list them? Thank you. That was really neat.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Many thanks! The main tool was just a set of cheap 'sheep shearer' clippers, but I also used the Bosch mini hedge trimmer: www.argos.co.uk/product/1457834. However, I wouldn't recommend the Bosch as the angle of the blade is all wrong and it makes your wrist ache.. Hope you enjoy doing your own! Best wishes, Tony.

[@henryk6979]

2nd one is better! good job!

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

I agree. Always the way!

[@user-yw9tb2ke9h]

فنان🌺🧡🌺

[@donnasantamaria8317]

please provide the name of the plant you are pruning. also what is the best time of year to do this kind of pruning? thank you.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Sorry Donna, I only know it's a type of cypress tree, but don't know which one. I've pruned it three times now and stick with the timings for my box hedging, which is spring and late summer. The last pruning made them look great as I stripped the branches from just behind the pompom right back to the trunk. This has given them real definition and moved them more towards 'cloud' and away from 'pom pom'. Best of luck with your own tree!

[@leosilvajardinagem8163]

Nice work congratulations, I'm a gardener here in Brazil how can I work with you there 🇧🇷

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

I don't think you'd like the weather here, Leo!

[@1978madrigal]

great video.. where did you get the music with Bob Ross mixed in..

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thanks, Gary. The track is by my son. Great use of the wonderful Mr. Ross, I hope you agree!

[@mercedesbriseno2403]

😱😱😱🥰🥰🥰👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@WrenchMonkey88]

This is so creative! What is the name of this Cypress tree? I'd like to purchase one! thanks!

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you so much! I'm afraid I don't know the variety, I just remember buying two very small and cheap trees about 10 years ago. When they started to outgrow their spot, something had to be done, so I decided to give cloud pruning a go. Delighted how they're turning out. Have you seen the second follow-up video? Hope you get to have a go!

[@user-mx1ec5yn5e]

Super 👍. Welche Sorte ist das? Smaragd Thuja?

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Freut mich, dass dir das Video gefallen hat. Die Stufen 2 und 3 folgen in Kürze. Tut mir leid, aber ich weiß nicht genau, um welche Zypresse es sich handelt.

[@xyzllii]

Ok Tony...off I go to give mine the 'look'.. Hopefully I'll not make a hamish of it !

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Best of luck! Just done the 'phase 2' prune on mine, which is to strip the branch behind the pompom completely. It's really opened them up..

[@xyzllii]

@@TonyDavisSaxophone Will take a look...if it's up on video.

[@Mahalakshmi-jc7ss]

I am from India. I like it. Super talent sir. May I know the plant name

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you, Maha! It was my first go, so I know it was more about determination than any talent. I'm sure you'll do a great job if you have a strong picture in your mind! They're cypress trees, but I'm really not sure which variety. Best of luck..

[@user-nw8gu9sz9s]

Супер!!!

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Спасибо!

[@auraborealis8061]

Please make more garden videos

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Many thanks, Aura. Next summer!

[@69kesh]

Good work turn of the music

[@missberty]

Totally agree, hard to hear you over the music.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Hi@@missberty​, the talking that's 'underneath' the music is actually part of the music track - it's Bob Ross, the painter!

[@M1GHTY24]

Beat the devil out of it.

[@RegineRenting]

It would have been great with no music behind !

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Haha! I know, will keep it quieter when I do the next installment..

[@jennypi]

What kind of shears are you using? Where can it be purchased? Thanks! :)

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Hi Jenny. They're just cheap 'sheep sheers' that you can pick up in any garden centre. I wouldn't recommend the electric ones I'm using. The handle is at a really odd angle and causes a lot of wrist pain. Hope your own project goes well!

[@jennypi]

@@TonyDavisSaxophone Thank you so much for the info and inspiration

[@mndumia1]

What's the species of the tree

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

I think they're cypress, but not sure which type.

[@user-nt7lx7sj1l]

Круто.какой сорт туи стрижоте?

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Спасибо! Это облачная обсуп. Я надеюсь, будет делать следующий этап процесса этим летом. С наилучшими пожеланиями.

[@friedahickman8022]

thanks for demo but could not hear all your comments as music too loud

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thanks for watching , Frieda! The comments you can't hear well are actually part of my young son's music track. They're fun quotes from the painter Bob Ross! Hope you have fun with your pruning! x

[@james-jq8sk]

@@TonyDavisSaxophone I loved the music, gardening tragic from Perth, Australia...

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you,@@james-jq8sk! Hope you're having fun with your own plan sculpting!

[@user-xx4ye8jr1o]

❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉😮😮😮😊😊😊😊

[@user-xx4ye8jr1o]

🎪🚀🛶🍋🍎🧬🎩🎈👔🏇🎊🎉🎉🎄♂️🕋🚿✈️🧸🐎🦓🐴🏇🦋🙏💖💝💌🏠🇧🇷🐞🥐🥖🍞🧀💒🏩⛪

[@shaistazaheer9679]

hello

[@zk6676]

Wish u didn’t have tht loud disturbing music in the video

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you for watching, though, Zohra. The speech that's drowned out by the music is actually part of the track. They're quotes from Bob Ross, the painter.. Best wishes, Tony.

[@emmalouise2481]

What is going on with the background music? So unexpected 😂

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Haha! Ed used quotes from the painter Bob Ross in his track..

[@janetstead7032]

Music toooo loud sir

[@ivanwoodhouse1958]

Too fast to see and understand what you were doing - such a shame because it looks very good

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Many thanks, Ivan. I have shown the main cutting in normal speed at various points, but clearly didn't want to use real-time throughout. However, did you know you could slow the video down using KZbin's settings? Simply click on the cog in the bottom-right of the video screen, select Playback Speed, and then choose the speed you'd like. You may also wish to watch stage two, which again has some close-ups of the cutting and knots: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5m4fph_raekabs

[@VP-td9gh]

This is an awesome video. PLEASE consider removing the music. It's like fingernails down a chalkboard to some of us. :/

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Ah! That's a shame, Vicky. It was written by my young son and I love it!

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

But thank you anyway!

[@VP-td9gh]

@@TonyDavisSaxophone I'm so sorry. Never wish to say anything to discourage a young musician. Like I said, SOME OF US. I think it might be lost on your fans...

[@harshisingh6801]

Music is too loud.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Many thanks for watching, Harshi. Is it that you can't hear me, or is it that you're trying to listen to the quiet speaking that is part of the music track?

[@MrOverdogg]

i don't think speeding the video up like that is fair to the viewer.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Thank you for watching anyway.

[@CocreativeCoUk]

Turn the music off! I can hardly hear you.

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Haha! Sorry, got carried away. Love the track..

[@TonyDavisSaxophone]

Actually, I've just watched the video again and wonder if those people mentioning that I'm not loud enough are really mistaking the 'Bob Ross' quotes (the charismatic painter) the composer weaved into his track with my voice? You can hear everything I have to say okay, but the Bob Ross quotes are a little more elusive!

[@WeezieV]

This music made me nauseous.